Rating of
3/4
"Shutter Island" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 01/22/12
A federal marshal enters a maximum security asylum for the criminally insane but when he begins to suspect that illegal experiments are being performed on the patients he starts to fear for both his safety and his sanity. Martin Scorsese hasn't had much luck when straying from his forte but this pulpy psychological thriller is pitched just right. Having DiCaprio as his leading man certainly does not hurt and he delivers yet another irritatingly fine performance. Add a quality supporting cast and a nicely ominous and oppressive score together with Scorsese's perfectly paced direction and some nice otherworldly visuals and you have a recipe for a great offbeat thriller with more than a hint of Hitchcockian flavour. The biggest problem with the film is that anyone who has seen more than three films in their lives will be aware that any set in a mental hospital will have one twist and one twist only. As such you'll see it coming a mile off and as a result the end is a little unsatisfying but the journey is more than worthwhile.
